Dry material feeding apparatus



Feb. 12, 1935.l -AEHINE v1,991,213

DRY MATERIAL FEEDINGAPFARATUS origina Filed oct; 6', 1930 g sheets-smeet1 Ik A TTQRNEY.

Feb. 12, 1935.

A. E. HINE DRY MATERIAL FEEDING APPARTUS 2 sheets-sheet 2 OriginalFil'ed Oct. 6, 1950 INVENTOR. A /f/"eo f. f77/7e ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 12, 1935 PATENT OFFICE DRY MATERIAL FEEDING APPARATUS'Alfred E. Hine, Sedalia, Mo."assignor to EricW. Bacharach, Kansasv City,Mo.

Original application October 6, 1930, Serial No. 486,700. Divided andthis application July 28,

1932, Serial No. 625,391

Claims.

This invention relates to a dry material feeding apparatus and moreparticularly to a machine for -feeding dry chemicals in measuredquantities to provide a predetermined chemical solution, the

5 present application being a division of application Serial No.486,700, and has for its principal object to provide for feeding a drymaterial in accurately determinedamounts proportionate to the flow of aliquid' toform a solution of predetermined strength.

In accomplishing this and other objects of the invention, I haveprovided improved details of structure, the preferred form of which isillus trated in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a dry material feeding machineconstructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the feed control members foreffecting intermittent operation of the power shaft in a continuousdirection.

Fig. 3 is a vertical, sectional View on the line 3 3, Fig. 2,particularly illustrating the control members for adjusting the numberof intermittent impulses during each stroke of the dispensing plunger.

Fig. 4 is a. view similar to Fig. 2, illustrating the driving pawl indriving relation with the disk for effecting intermittent rotation ofthe power shaft in a continuous direction.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the lower end of the hopper andthe material dispensing plunger.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of the plunger actuating mechanism.

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7 7, Fig. 5.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:-

l designates a frame for supporting a hopper 2 containing a dry chemicalmaterial to be discharged into a mixing tank 3 which is spaced therefromand also carried by the frame 1.

The hopper 2 includes end walls 4 and 5 and downwardly and inwardlydiverging side walls 6 and 7 terminating in a substantiallysemicylindrical bottom 8 that is provided, substantially in its center,with a material discharge outlet 9 through which the material maygravitate onto a receiving member 10 later described. Connected with thebottom of the hopper and the upper walls of the mixing tank 6 is ahousing member 11 for guiding discharge material intothe mixing tank.

Extending horizontally across the housing 11 at a point directly belowthe curved bottom of the hopper is a partition 13 having an opening 14therein coinciding with the opening in the hopper previously described.

The receiving member 10 preferably includes a rectangular,channel-shaped trough having a flat bottom 15 of substantially the widthof the openings 9 and 14 but of greater length to form a support for thematerial discharged therethrough. The sides 16 and 17 of the trough areattached to the under face of the horizontal partition to form aguideway for a plunger 18 which is adapt- 10 ed to be reciprocated todischarge the material oi the opposite open ends of the trough. Fixed tothe plunger 18 is a rod 19 that is slidably mounted in an opening 20 ina side wall of the housing 11 and in a bearing bracket 2lv attached 15to the outer face of the side wall, as best illustrated in Fig. l. 'Iheopposite end of the rod is operably connected with a lever arm 22depending from a rock shaft 23 that is rotatably mounted on the frame 1in bearings 24 and extends in 20 l spaced, parallel relation with theaxis of the bot-1. tom of the hopper.

The arm 22 is preferably connected to the end of the rod 19 by means ofa yoke-shaped head 25 having spaced ears 26 engaging opposite sides of25 the arm and carrying a pivot pin 27 that extends through a slottedopening 28 in the end of the arm to prevent binding of the rod 19 in itsbearings as the arm swings in an arc relative to the shaft 23.

The shaft 23 is rocked in one direction by a series of intermittentimpulses and then in the opposite direction by a similar series ofintermittent impulses to dispense the material from the ends of thetrough, that is, the plunger starts 35 its stroke at one end of thetrough and is moved by a series of intermittent steps to the oppositeend of the trough, and during each intermittent movement a proportionatequantity of material is pushed from the end of the trough. When the 40plunger reaches the end of its stroke, it is returned by a series ofintermittent steps, discharging the material which has flowed in back ofthe plunger during its forward .travel from the opposite end of thetrough.

It is thus apparent that the stroke of the plunger may be constant andthat the length of the steps or the increments of movement may be variedto control the total amount of material discharged from the plate uponeach stroke of the plunger. To accomplish this movement of the plunger,I provide an apparatus for actuating the rock shaft, as now to bedescribed.

The frame 1 extends laterally from the side of the hopper to support anactuating mechanism including a motor 29 carried on a platform 30, and atransmission indicated by the housing 31 which is carried on a platform32 positioned above the motor platform for reducing the speed of themotor to that required for operating the plunger actuating mechanism, asWell as a suitable cutting mechanism in the hopper. A

The transmission 31 may be of any conventional type and its drivingshaft is provided with a pulley 33 operable from a pulley 34 on themotor through a belt 35. The driven shaft 36 of the transmission isprovided on one end with a disk 37 carrying an eccentric pin 38.

Rotatably supported bythe frame extension at a point above the rockshaft 23 in bearings 39 is a shaft 40 which is intermittently actuatedfrom the eccentric disk 37, as now described. Fixed on the shaft is adisk 41 having its periphery preferably covered with a friction band 42that is adapted to be intermittently engaged by a pawl 43 when it isreciprocated over the periphery of the disk in one direction.

The pawl 43 is pivotally carried on a pin 44 projecting from the end ofa rocker arm 45 which is loosely mounted on the shaft 40 adjacent theside face of the disk 41 so that the pawl 43 may operate on the frictionband under control of a regulating disk 46 later described.

The arm 45 is operably connected with the'eccentric pin 33 by aconnecting link or pitman 47 having bearings 48 and 49 at its ends toengage the wrist pin, and a similar pin 50 projecting from the side faceof the rocker arm, as best illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

The control disk 46 is larger in diameter than the disk 41 and includeshub members 51 and 52 on opposite sides thereof to form respectively aspring supporting bracket and a socket for the inner end of a sleeve 53that is mounted on the shaft 40 and fixed within the socket to thecontrol disk.

The sleeve 53 is adapted to be moved rotatably in either direction andto be fixed in selected position by a worm 54 meshing with a worm gear55 xed to the outer end of the sleeve and in juxtaposition to the disk46` The worm 54 is fixed to a shaft 56 rotatably mounted in the frameextension, and is actuated by a hand wheel 57, as is illustrated in Fig.1.

Mounted on the side face of the control disk 46 adjacent the disk 41 isa circular track 58 including a xed arcuate section 59 of largerdiameter than the diameter of the disk 4l, and a movable arcuate section60 pivoted to the face of the disk by a pin 61. The movable segment 60cooperates with the section 59 to complete the periphery of the track58.

The ends 62 and 63 of the fixed section 59 are preferably bevelled tocorrespond with similarly bevelled ends on the movable section 60 tolimit movement of the movable section in an outward driection underinfluence of a leaf spring 64 having one end fixed to the bracket 5l andits opposite end bearing against the free end cf the movable section tonormally retain the movable section in cooperative relation with thefixed section 59.

The outer face of the movable section is provided with a depression 65and includes a steeply sloping portion 66 adjacent the pivot point 6land a gradually sloping portion 67 extending from the terminal 66 to theend of the movable section.

Freely rotatable on a lateral pin 60 rigidly attached to the pawl 43 isa roller 69 running on the composite track just described and inconstant engagement therewith to limit inward movement of the pawltoward the periphery of the disk 4l except when the roller enters thedepression 65 in the movable segment. When the roller moves oif thesteeply inclined portion 66, the pawl drops into engagement with theface of the disk 41, and, upon further movement of the pawl, the pawldepresses the movable section until the rocker arm has reached the limitof its movement.

On the return movement of the rocker arm under influence-of theconnecting link 47, the leaf spring 64 returns the movable section ofthe track to normal position, moving-'the roller therewith and liftingthe pawl from sliding engagement retractively over the face of the disk41.

An adjustable brake, including a clamp band 70, engages the drum 71 onthe shaft 40, and a brake operating member 72 is mounted on the bearingsupport for the shaft toA exert suiic'ient pressure against the shaft sothat the pawl will at al1 times operate against a load capable oflocking the pawl with the wheel.

The driving connection between the shaft 23 and the shaft 40 is such asto convert the intermittent rotation of the .shaft 40 in one directioninto rocking of the shaft 23 in alternate directions bya seriesofintermittent steps, as nowdescribed.

Fixed on the outer end of the shaft 40 is'a lever arm 73 operablyconnected with a'lever arm 74 on the shaft 23 by a link 75 so that asthe arm 73 intermittently moves on the downward part of its cycle thearm 74 is swung downwardly to rock the shaft 23 in an anti-clockwisedirection, Fig. 1, to move the plunger 18 in one direction, and when thelever arm v73 moves upwardly on the other half of its cycle the shaft 23is rocked in a clockwise direction to move the plunger in the oppositedirection.

In using an apparatus constructed and assembled as described' the trackadjusting wheel 46 will be rotated to set the device for effecting thedesired increments of movement for the shaft 40 upon each drivingoscillation of the rocker arm. When zero on a scale 76, that is mountedon the disk 46, is opposite the pointer 77, the pawl will not engage thedisk at any point in its stroke because the wheel on the pawl does notmove far enough to engage the depression 65. Consequently, there wouldbe no movement of the disk. However, when the maximum point of the scaleis opposite the pointer, the pawl Will engage the Wheel at the beginningof its forward stroke and will continue to engage and drive the wheelforwardly until the end of its stroke. In other words, in this maximumsetting the disk will be rotated approximately with each forward strokeof the pawl, thereby rotating the shaft 40 90 upon each operation of therocker arm.

With this setting of the scale the track Ais so arranged relatively tothe retractive position of the pawl that the roller drops into thedepression immediately at the beginning of its forward movement, so thatthe end of the pawl engages the track and causes depression of thesegment until the rocker arm has reached the end of its stroke. Uponbeginning the retractive movement of the rocker arm, the drivingpressure of the pawl on the disk 41 is relieved to permit the spring 64to lift the pawl from engagement with the disk.

By setting the scale at any intermediate point between zero and maximumposition, any desired increment of movement of the shaft 40 may beprovided from zero to the maximum.

The intermittent rotation of the shaft 40 moves the lever arm 73intermittently in a downward direction as the crank arm moves from itstop center to its bottom center on the right hand side of itsplanetation (Fig. 6) and by a series of intermittent impulses in anupward direction during planetation from its bottom center to its topcenter, thereby rocking the shaft 23 to transfer similar pulsations tothe plunger 18 in its movement across the receiving member 10 todisplace substantially equal amounts of material as it reciprocatesthereacross.

The reciprocating speed of the rocker arm is constant, that is, it maybe made to reciprocate a definite number of times per minute. Once thisspeed is set the rocker arm and, consequently, the pawl will reciprocatethe same number of strokes per minute. Therefore, the speed with whichthe disk 41 rotates is determined entirely by the length of thrust givento the Wheel by the pawl, and this in turn is regulated by setting ofthe scale which xes the relationship between the depression in themovable section of the track and the roller on the pawl, therebydefinitely determining the increments of movement during each stroke ofthe plunger, the length of the plunger being constant.

It is thus apparent that the material is intermittently discharged inequal amounts proportionate to the increments of movement. This is animportant feature as distinguished from feeding machines where theplunger moves through varying strokes, because where the length of theplunger is varied to vary the amount of feed and when the plunger is setto move short distances to provide an extremely light feed, the plungersoon packs the material at opposite sides thereof and ceases todischarge equal amounts off the ends of the plate, but by having theplunger move with a xed stroke in varying increments all the materialahead of the plunger is dispensed off the ends of the plate during eachstroke of the plunger.

By operating the plunger through fixed distances in varying incrementsof movement a slower running machine may also be provided withproportionately the same amount of feed of material, thereby reducingthe power required, as Well as wear and tear on the parts.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. An apparatus of the character described including a hopper having anopening for iiow of material from the hopper, a receiver for thematerial having parallel sides and a bottom spaced below the opening toform a feeding chamber open at the ends, a plunger having slidingcontact with the sides and bottom of the receiver, and means forreciprocating the plunger in'a succession of steps in alternatedirections to effect feed of material in intermittent amountsalternately from the respective ends of the receiver.

2. An apparatus of the character described including a hopper having anopen bottom for flow of material from the hopper, a receiver for thematerial havinglparallel sides and a bottom spaced below the opening toform a feeding chamber open at the ends, a plunger having slidingcontact with the sides and bottom of the receiver, and means forreciprocating the plunger in a succession of steps in alternatedirections to effect feed of material in intermittent amountsalternately from the respective ends of the receiver, and means forregulating extent of said steps to vary the feed of the material.

3. In an apparatus of the character described including a hopper havingan opening for flow of material from the hopper, a receiver for thematerial having parallel sides and a bottom spaced below the opening toform a feeding chamber open at the ends, a plunger having slidingcontact with the sides and bottom of the receiver, means forreciprocating the plunger in a succession of steps in the oppositedirection to effect feed of material in intermittent amounts alternatelyfrom the ends of the receiver, means for regulating the length of saidsteps to vary feed of material over a predetermined time, and meanscooperating with the reciprocating means for indicating the extent ofsaid steps.

4. An apparatus of the character described including a hopper having anopening for ow of material from the hopper, a receiver for the materialhaving parallel sides and a bottom spaced below the opening to form afeeding chamber open at the ends, a plunger having sliding contact withthe sides and bottom of the receiver, means for reciprocating theplunger including a rock shaft, means connecting the rock shaft with theplunger, and means for oscillating the rock shaft by a series of stepsin alternate directions for operating the plunger to effect continuousfeed of material alternately from the respective ends of the receiver.

5. In an apparatus of the character described including a hopper havingan opening for flow of mate-rial from the hopper, a receiver for thematerial having parallel sides and a bottom spaced below the opening toform a feed chamber open at the ends, means for reciprocating theplunger including a driving member, means for intermittently actuatingthe driving member, and means connected with the plunger fortransmitting intermittent motion of said driving member to the plungerfor reciprocating the plunger in alternate series of steps in oppositedirections to effect feed of material in intermittent amounts a1-ternately from the ends of the receiver.

ALFRED E. HINE.

